Independent Women's Football League kicks off its first round of playoff games this Saturday, June 12. At 1 p.m. at Tak Fudenna Memorial Stadium on the campus of Washington High School, the Bay Area Bandits (5-3) will host the Modesto Maniax (1-7) in the Tier II Divisional Playoffs.

Modesto will be making its second trip into Tak this season. On May 22, the Bandits had their way with the Maniax, trouncing them 47-8, clinching the Tier II Pacific West Division. Bandits coach Jim Goulden says it won't be as easy this time around.

"Modesto has played every week like it was their first game despite their record," said Goulden. "They will without a doubt be a tough team to beat this weekend."

Against Modesto, the Bandits had a full complement of players while earning its fifth straight win. However, during the club's two-game losing streak to end the regular season -- a home-and-home series with the So Cal Scorpions of IWFL's Tier I -- the Bandits lost a number of key starting players.

"The players have pulled together and stepped up," Goulden said. "We have lost a number of starters to season-ending injuries and now must get the other units up to speed on what we need to do to get through the first round and onto the conference championship."

Should the Bandits advance into the conference championship, they would take on the winner of the Wisconsin Warriors and Memphis Belles game on July 10. And the winner of the conference championship moves on to the North American Championship game on July 24 in Texas.